We are launching a new consumer lending business in South Africa and are looking for a Chief Risk Officer (CRO) to build and lead the Risk function from the ground up.
This is a key leadership role with direct impact on the company’s lending strategy, portfolio quality, profitability, and scalability.
We are looking for a hands-on risk leader with strong experience in microfinance, digital lending, consumer lending, or other high-volume unsecured credit products, who understands how to build risk management in a new market — from initial underwriting rules and scoring models to portfolio monitoring and continuous optimisation.
Key Responsibilities
- Build the company’s credit risk strategy and Risk function from scratch.
- Design and continuously improve underwriting policies, credit rules, limits, and decision-making frameworks.
- Develop the approach to credit scoring and automated decision-making in cooperation with Data/Analytics and technology teams.
- Define risk appetite, approval criteria, cut-offs, limits, and portfolio-level risk thresholds.
- Build portfolio monitoring and early-warning systems.
- Analyse portfolio performance by cohorts, customer segments, acquisition channels, products, and other relevant dimensions.
- Monitor and manage key risk metrics, including approval rate, default rate, delinquency rate, vintage performance, roll rate, expected losses, and profitability.
- Develop strategies for balancing growth, approval rates, unit economics, and credit losses.
- Establish fraud risk controls and contribute to fraud prevention strategy.
- Identify emerging risks and implement corrective actions based on portfolio performance.
- Ensure that risk policies and processes align with local regulatory requirements and responsible lending principles.
- Work closely with the Managing Partner and founders on strategic decisions related to the lending business.
What We’re Looking For
- Strong experience in credit risk within microfinance, digital lending, payday lending, consumer finance, fintech lending.
- Previous experience in a Head of Risk, CRO, Credit Risk Director, Head of Credit Risk, or similar senior leadership role.
- Deep understanding of the full credit lifecycle: acquisition → underwriting → approval → portfolio management → delinquency → collections.
- Strong knowledge of credit scoring, underwriting strategies, risk segmentation, and portfolio analytics.
- Strong understanding of portfolio economics and the relationship between risk, pricing, acquisition, approval rates, and profitability.
- Experience building or significantly transforming risk processes, policies, or teams.
- Strong analytical and data-driven mindset.
- Ability to operate in an entrepreneurial environment where processes and infrastructure are still being built.
What We Offer
- Opportunity to join a new consumer lending business at an early stage and directly shape its risk strategy.
- C-level role with significant influence on business and product decisions.
- Direct collaboration with the founders and Managing Partner.
- Opportunity to build the Risk function, processes, and team from the ground up.
- High level of autonomy and ownership.
- International business environment.
- Competitive compensation package, discussed individually depending on experience.
If you’re excited by the opportunity to build a business from the ground up and make a lasting impact, we’d love to hear from you!